I'm glad we went, should have gone diving at every port as port activity and shopping are the same everywhere. The only way to escape the heat is in the water or inside the ship.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
If you go hungry on a cruise ship, shame on you! The buffet was open from 5:30 am until almost midnight with choices for any dietary needs. Because most passengers eat at the buffet, I recommend one of the three main dining rooms for a more personal experience. The food is the same in all 3, but the wait staff are attentive and accommodating. We even noticed a couple from Israel who could eat Kosher. We bought a bottle of wine, had some and they stowed the rest away for another evening. We celebrated our anniversary with a gift cake and singing waiters in the Tropicana. We felt no need to pay extra for a specialty restaurant, but for those with this package included, they are lovely as well.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The fitness center was packed on the first day at sea, so we didn't go back. I'm sure for those committed to this activity there were times when it was less busy. The pool deck was impossible on days at sea. Lots of kids, staff trying to shout out game instructions to everyone crowded around an area way too small for almost 4000 passengers, music way too loud. We avoided it by using the upper or lower hallways that run forward to aft.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We thoroughly enjoyed the evening entertainment, paid extra to attend the dinner and "circus". Million Dollar Quartet is a definite must-do! Awesome!!! The musicians and DJs were way too loud for us "seniors" so we avoided the H2O and the main lounge areas.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Paul, our room steward was delightful, as were the other room steward working so very hard to keep the ship up to standards. Someone drank too much in Belize and vomited all over the hallway on our deck. They worked for hours cleaning it up and by the next morning there was no tell-tale signs that it happened. Marliza, the roving Officer in dining areas, always stopped to greet us and have a chat.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
All staff are committed to keeping the ship looking great; wet pool deck mopped quickly after a rain shower; plates taken away as soon as they are empty in the dining areas; dropped napkins or other items are quickly snagged by any one walking by.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The bed was next to the balcony and the sofa in the middle of the room, making the area feel larger than other cabins I have stayed in. However, the sofa was very close to the hanger side of the closet, making access to that side difficult.
Ship tip
Mid-deck 6, 7 & 8 pick up the tobacco odor from the casino. That whole casino area smells like a dirty ash tray.
It was difficult to figure out how to get out of the port area and meet our excursion coordinator. We did not book through the ship, which may have helped. We went snorkeling with a small group, nice folks, but didn't see much underwater wild life. Lots of bleached coral, very sad. We did get to see the "Shelf" of the reef, rather dramatic drop. I should have gone diving instead.
You get off the ship and it's a long walk to this NCL Man-made island off the coast of Belize. It provides an opportunity to swim in a decent size pool or zip line from the light house; paddle boats and other water sports are available as are lots of shops and eateries. The "nature center" actually takes 5 minutes, has a butterfly house and a few birds. We did not do an excursion. Again, I should have gone diving.
We took a large air conditioned coach (bus) to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. It was muddy after the night time rain. We were advised to wear long pants and sleeves, but it was WAY TOO HOT. Most people wore sorts and Ts. You MUST use insect repellent, and wear sneakers because of the mud and pebbles. This sight is much smaller than Tulum or Chichen Itza, but at least there is a lot of shade.
We spent most of the day on the ship as the shopping area was crowded and hot. We had a lovely breeze on our balcony, watched activity on the MSC Ship docked right beside us, then escaped the a quieter interior when the loud music either from NCL Pool deck or the MSC became unbearable. I should have gone diving!
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